Keypoints:
- Minister warns against extractive trade mindset
- Nigeria less affected by US tariffs
- Dismisses false claims of Christian persecution
NIGERIA’S Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has urged wealthy nations to move beyond resource-driven trade and engage Africa as a genuine partner in development. Speaking at the Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi, Tuggar said the continent should not be treated as a quarry for raw materials but as an equal in shaping global economic growth.
‘Sometimes it’s like the game Minecraft: there’s oil, there’s gas, there are critical minerals and rare earths. We put a bit of this, we invest in this. No, that’s not the way it goes,’ Tuggar told delegates.
He stressed that trade must rest on ‘mutual respect and shared interests’, adding that Africa’s development is vital for tackling global challenges such as irregular migration and instability.
Minecraft, developed by Mojang Studios, is a popular video game where players mine virtual materials to build structures — an analogy Tuggar used to criticise the exploitative approach of some Western nations.
Nigeria ‘relatively insulated’ from Trump tariffs
Tuggar said Nigeria had been less affected by US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which impose a 15 percent levy on certain exports including oil and gas.
He attributed the country’s resilience to its vast domestic market and diversified partnerships. ‘With a population of 230 million expected to reach 400 million by 2050, we have the internal market to absorb shocks,’ he said, citing strong trade links with China, India, and Brazil.
The minister pointed to reforms designed to boost investor confidence — including a stabilised exchange rate, renewed access to foreign currency, tax cuts, and power-sector liberalisation separating generation, transmission, and distribution. Feed-in tariffs for renewable energy, he added, are intended to draw new investment.
Despite decades of promises, unreliable electricity remains one of Nigeria’s biggest hurdles. The World Bank estimates that four in ten Nigerians still lack access to power, while frequent blackouts force those who can afford it to rely on noisy, polluting diesel generators.
Minister rejects false claims of Christian persecution
Tuggar also addressed online claims of a so-called ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria — allegations he said were being amplified by some US media commentators and do not reflect reality.
‘One of our major challenges at the moment is the false narratives being created about Nigeria — that Christians are being persecuted. It couldn’t be further from the truth,’ he said. ‘Investors need to come and see for themselves.’
Nigeria, home to over 200 ethnic groups and a near-even split between Christians and Muslims, has long maintained a tradition of coexistence. Mosques and churches stand side by side, and public events often feature prayers from both faiths.
While clashes between communities do occur — often linked to land, ethnicity, or regional grievances — Tuggar said it was misleading to frame them solely as religious persecution. He also noted that the Boko Haram insurgency, now in its fifteenth year, has largely targeted Muslim communities in the northeast.
